Simon bar Giora

Simon bar Giora (died 70 AD) was a Jewish rebel leader during the First Jewish-Roman War.

Biography
Simon bar Giora was born in Gerasa, Samaria, and he became a leader of the Jewish rebellion in 66 AD. He led a counterattack against the Roman army under Cestius Gallus at Beth Horon, annihilating the Roman force in a major victory for the Jews. He emerged as a leader of one of the many sparring Jewish rebel factions, and many of them fought against each other more than they resisted the Romans. Bar Giora was in command of the garrison of Jerusalem when it was besieged in 70 AD (during which he put to death all suspected traitors, including some of his own friends), and his 20,000 defenders fought hard against Titus' 70,000-strong besieging army before they were overwhelmed. All of the Jewish defenders died, and Bar Giora was captured while attempting to tunnel his way out of the city. He was taken to Rome as a prisoner, and he was executed by being thrown from the Tarpeian Rock.